Lifter



E. v. CULLEN Erm. 2,250,751

LIFTER Filed March 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1941.

M @@@MNW July 29 1941- E. v. cULLEN ETAL 2,250,751

/LIFTER Filed March so,l `1940 4 sheets-sheet a Zy )Slaaf-f rari i July 29, 1941.

E. v. 'cuLLEN Erm.

LIFTER Filed March 30, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 29, 1941 'LXFTER Edward V. Cullen, Erard J. Shaughnessy, and Charles J. Tupy, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Cullen-Friestedt Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of-Illinois 'Application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 326,922

16 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to lifters for handling stacks of sheets. More particularly the inventionfrelates to that type of sheet lifter Which-is adapted to be hoisted and move'd'from'placeto place by a craneor overhead'hoist andas its principal or essential parts comprises: (l) an elongated supporting element which is designed orv adapted normally to extend l horizcntallyand' has an upstanding' loop or other means on the central portion thereof Vwhereby it maybe 'attached'to a hook or other connecting,

devicetonltho operating end'of the vcrane or hoist with which the lifter is used; (2) a pair of opposed .complemental 'jaws which are shiftable to and from ione another into andout of engagement with the side margins of the sheets and consist of Vuppermembers which are pivotally connected to, and depend from, the supporting element, vand lower members which areconnected to, and depend from, thelupper members andare provided atthe lower ends thereof with means 'for underlying and supporting the side margins of the sheets; and (3) gear mechanism` which is carried bythe supporting element and operatesin response to actuation thereof conjointly -toshifting the jawsto or from orleanother.

'One object of the invention is to provide a lifter of this 'type' which is'animprovement upon, and has certain advantages over and greater capabilities of use than, previously designed lifters of "the same general character, including the lifter vwhich is shown in and forms the subject matter `of application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. $207,682, filed May 13, 1938, by Erard J. Shaughnessy, now Patent 2,210,355.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheetA lifter of the type and'ch'aracter under consideration which iscapable of being used effectively and efficiently in connection with closely positioned stacks of sheets by reason of the fact that the lower members of the jaws are L-shaped and have the upper ends of their vertical legs so journaled or mounted that the lower members may be turned bodily back and forth between an inoperative position wherein the lower or horizontal legs are longitudinally aligned with one another and extend in parallel relation with the supporting element, and an operative or sheet supporting position wherein such horizontal legs extend inwardly, i. e., at' right angles to the supporting element.

Another object of the `invention is to provide a sheet lifter of the last mentioned character in which each of the jaws is provided with novel CSI means for conjointly 'turning the L-shaped lower members thereof back'and forth between their inoperative andv operative'positions.

Another object of the invention `is gto-provide a sheet lifter of the aforementioned vtypejwhich includes'pairs of compression spring assemblies which extend betweeny the horizontally'extending supporting element-and the upper ends vof the jaws and are soA arranged that the lsprings thereof are placed under compression in connection with closing or'inwardshiitof the jaws and operate in connection-with' opening 'orgo'utward movement of the '-jaws to counteract or lessen the effect of gravity'on the'jaws and thus reduce 'the load on the gear mechanism.

Another object'of the invention is Vto--provide a sheet'lifter ofthe type andcharacter herein' before set forth whichincludesat the ends of the supporting y' element hooks for grippingthe central 'portions ofthe Vend parts ofthe sheets andpreventsagging offthe 'sheets in connection with'hoisting Yand movement` ofthe lifter.

"Another Vobjectof 'the'inventin is"to provide a sheet lifter of the last -m'entioned Ncharaoter in which the end'hooks for preventing the sheets from sagging rare'connected to 'wire cables, the inner upper Yends'of 'which are anchored tospring retracted drums'on top of the supporting element.

Afurther object of the invention is'the provision in connection `with a lifter. Yof itlie type under consideration, of novel means for releasing'and locking the drumsto which are anchored the lwire cables `for the end hooks.r

A still further object of the invention" isto provide 'a sheet lifter which is generallyo'f new and improved construction, embodies ac'ompact arrangement of itsoperatingparts and effectively and Vefficiently fulfills itsin'tended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the Various' advantagesandcharacteristics 'of the present sheet lifter will be-apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined byclaim's at the conclusion hereof. x f

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or. disclosure 'and in which like numerals of 'reference denote corre# sponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is aside view or elevation showing a lifter embodying the invention with the-end with a stack of sheets;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the lifter illustrating in detail the arrangement and design of the means for locking and releasing the spring retracted drums to which are anchored the wire supporting cables for the end hooks;

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating the manner in which the upper ends of the vertical legs of the L-shaped lower members of the jaws are journaled or rotatably mounted and disclosing the construction of the means for conjointly turning the lower members back and forth between their operative and inoperative positions;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure l and illustrating the design and arrangement of the pairs of spring assemblies for counteracting the effect of gravity on the jaws in connection with jaw opening actuation of the gear mechanism;

Figure 5 is a side view of one of the spring another a stack of sheets or like articles, and

comprises an elongated supporting element 1, a pair of opposed complemental jaws 8 and 9, and a gear mechanism I0 for conjointly opening and closing the jaws, i. e., shifting the jaws to and from one another.

'I'he supporting element 1 is adapted normally to extend horizontally. It carries the jaws 8 and 8 as well as the gear mechanism I0 and is in the form of an I-bearn. As shown in the drawings, the element 1 carries the jaws in a depending manner and comprises a vertical web I I, a horizontally extending top ange I2 and a horizontally extending bottom flange I3. An upstanding loop I4 for the hook at the operating end of the crane or hoist with which the lifter is used, is suitably secured to the central portion of the element 1. This loop is so positioned with respect to the ends of the element 1 that the lifter as a vwhole balances and assumes substantially a horizontal position when it is hoisted or moved from place to place.

The jaws 8 and 9 are adapted, as hereinafter described, to be shifted to and from one another in response to actuation of the gear mechanism I0. They extend lengthwise of the supporting element and comprise upper members I5 and lower members I6. Each of the jaws, as shown in the drawings, embodies a plurality of upper members and a corresponding number of lower members. The upper members I5 have inturned or inwardly extending upper ends and each is composed of a pair of laterally spaced plate metal pieces I1. The upper ends of the uppermembers of the jaws are pivotally connected by way of pivot pins I8 to pairs of outwardly extending laterally spaced pivot lugs I9 onthe supporting element 1. The upper members I5 of the jaw 8 are positioned in opposed relation with the upper members of the jaw 9. 'The pairs of pivot lugs iit between, and are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to, the top and bottom anges of the elementV 1 and project into the intervening spaces at the upper ends of the pairs of pieces I1 which form or constitute the upper jaw members I5. The pins I8 extend through aligned holes in the pivot lugs and the upper ends of the pieces I1 and together with the lugs I9 so pivotally support the jaws 8 and 9 that the latter are free to swing to and from one another into and out of gripping relation with a stack of sheets. The lower members I6 of the jaws are L-shaped and consist of elongated vertically extending legs 20 and short horizontally extending legs 2I. The horizontal legs 2I are formed integrally with, and extend at right angles to, the lower ends of the Vertical legs 23. When the lower members I6 of the jaws are in their normal or operative position the legs 2I extend inwards so that they are adapted to underlie the sheets to be lifted (see Figure 4). Preferably the top faces of the horizontal legs 2I are flat. The vertical legs 28 of the lower members of the jaws are provided with reduced stems 22 and these extend through, and are journaled in, box-like housings 23 in order that the lower members may be turned as hereinafter described, from their operative position wherein the horizontal legs 2I extend or face inwards, to an inoperative position wherein said legs 2I are longitudinally aligned and extend in parallel relation with the supporting element 1. The housings 23 t within the intervening spaces at the lower ends of the pairs of plate metal pieces I1 and consist of side walls 24, top walls 25 and bottom walls 26. The top and bottom walls t between, and are suitably secured to, the side walls and serve to hold the latter in laterally spaced relation. The lower members I6 of the jaws are connected to the upper members I5 by way of a pair of shafts 21 in order that they may be swung into different angular positions with respect to the upper members and thus adapt the lifter for use in connection with stacks of wide sheets as Well as small sheets. The shafts 21 are associated with the jaws 8 and 9,

, respectively, and extend horizontally. They are positioned in parallel relation and extend loosely through holes 28 in the side walls 24 of the housings 23 and holes 29 in inwardly extending lugs 38 at the lower ends of the plate metal pieces I1. As shown in Figure 3, the holes 28 and 29 are coaxial. The side walls 24 of the housings 23 are sector shaped and have at the top thereof arcuate series of notches 3|. The latter are positioned above the shafts 21 and coact with a pair of horizontally extending slide bars 32 to form means for holding the lower members I8 of the jaws 8 and 9 in their various adjusted positions with respect to the upper members I5. The bars 32 are associated with the two jaws respectively and are positioned above the shafts 21 and directly over the box-like housings 23.v They are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in slots 33 in the lower central portions of the pieces I1 and have notches 34 in the bottom portions thereof. Said notches 34 are normally 1ocated to one side of th-e side walls 24 of the housings 23, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and are adapted when the bars 32 are shifted in one direction, to be brought into registry with the notched arcuate top portions of said side walls 24 and release the housings as far as the bars are concerned so that the lower members I6 of the jaws are free to be swung laterally into different angular positions relatively to the upper members S5 of the jaws. The portions of the bars 32 which are adjacent to and define the notches 34, constitute locking dogs 35. The latter are adapted, when the locking bars are shifted in the opposite direction after proper adjustment of the lower members I6 with respect to the upper members I5, to fit within the adjacent notches 3| of the -sidewalls of the housings 23 and thus lock the lower members of the jaws in xed or set relation with the upper members I5. Longitudinal shift ofthe bars 32 isveiected by means of a pair of levers 36.V The latter are located at one end of the lifter and are pivotally connected to certain of the pieces I1. Links 31 connect the levers 36 to the adjacent ends of the slide bars 32 with the result that when the levers are swung in one direction they slide the bars into a position wherein the lower members of the jaws are released for angular adjustment with respect to the upper members and when the levers are swung in the other direction they so shift the bars as to effect locking of the lower members in their adjusted positions with respect to the upper members of the jaws. The lower Amembers I6 of the jaws are confined against vertical displacement with respect to the box-like housings 23 by means of enlarged shoulders 38 at the lower ends of the stems 22 and nuts 39 at the upper ends of the stems. The shoulders 38 abut against the bottom faces of the bottom walls 26 of the housings 23 and the nuts 39 overlie the top faces of the top walls 25 of the housings. The nuts and shoulders are-so spaced apart that they do not interfere with turning `of the lower jaw members I6 about `the aXes of the vertical legs 20. In order to effect conjoint turning of the lower jaw members back and'forth betweentheir aforementioned operative and inoperative positions pairs of spiral toothed gears 40 and 4I are provided. The gears 4i! are keyed or otherwise xedly secured to the shafts 21 and are disposed between the side walls 24 of the boxlike housings 23. The gears 4I are suitably xedly secured to the reduced stems 22 at the upper ends of the lower jaw members I 6 and are in mesh with the gears 40. When the shafts 21 are properly turned the lower members I6 are turned by the action of the gears 40 and 4I from their operative position whereinthe horizontal legs 2I eX- tend inwardly, to their inoperative.v position wherein such legs are longitudinally aligned and are positioned in parallel relation with the supporting element 1. When the shafts 21 are reversely turned the lower jaw membersv I6 are turned from their inoperative position toY their operative position. By providing means whereby the lower jaw members may be conjointly turned from their normal or operative position intoan inoperative position`wherein the horizontal legs 20 are longitudinally aligned it is possible to use the lifter in connection with closely positioned stacks of sheets. When the stack to be lifted is positioned in close proximity to other vstacks vat the sides thereof the operator of the lifter turns the lower jaw members into their inoperative position and then -lowers the-lifter into straddle relation with thestack to be lifted. Thereafter thelower jaw members I6 are turned into their operative position by proper turning or manipulation of the shafts 21. After such turning of the shafts'the jaws are swung inwards-into gripping relation withv thesides ofthe stack to be lifted Vby proper actuation of the gear mechanism I0. In order to permit the operatorfofthe lifter readilyV to turn the Vshafts-21 each of the shafts is provided with a radially extending turning lever 42. As shown in Figure 1 the levers 42 are positioned at one end of the lifter `and-are provided at theirY distal ends Awith hand grips 43. When it is desired to rotate shafts 21 the operator grasps the grips 43 and by swinging the levers 42 eifects,v

through. the mediumv of therspirally toothed gears 4I) and 4I. turning ofthe lower jaw members I6.`

Thelevers 42 are provided with locking dogs 44 i for releasably holding themin place. These dogs have. the central portions thereof pivotally connected'to the inner or proximalends of the :levers 42 and are :adapted to' coact lwith'peripherally notched discs which are fiXedly secured'to the plate metal pieces I1 that carry vthe slide Ybar actuating levers 36. The inner ends of the d ogs 44 are designed to t within the notchesof the discs 45 and when in place lock the shafts 21 against rotation. Release of the dogs 44 is effectedby means of plungers 46. The latter are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the dogs 44 kand extend through and aremounted slidably within the grip equipped distal'ends of the levers 42. The outer ends of the plungers are provided with finger pieces 41 adjacent the outer ends of the grips 43. Compression springs kv48 around the plungers and within the grips urge the plungers outwards and thus operate to hold the dogs 44 in locked relation with the discs 45. When-it is desired to release the'dogs 44'in connection with turning of the shafts 21 it is only necessary to press the nger pieces 41 inwards. This serves to slide the plungers 46inwardsan'd swing the dogs 44 out `of locked relation or engagement with the discs 45. When Vthefinger pieces 41 are released the springs 4Bv operate through the medium of the plungers 46, to swing the dogs 44 into locked relation with the discs. The levers 42, the shafts 21 and the spiral toothed gears 40 and 4i constitute or exemplify simple means for conjointly shiftingthe lower jawmembers IG back and forth between their operative and inoperative positions. The locking dogs 44, the peripherally notched discs 45 and the plungers 46 constitute simple ymeans for releasably locking the shafts 21 in the various positions into which theyare turned or rotated. i r

The gear mechanism I0 for conjointly shifting or vswinging the jaws "8 `and 5 to and vfrom one anothercomprises a handwheel 49a pair of shafts5li and'5I, a brake unit 52, a gearunit 53, apinion 54, agear segment 55,-ashaft 56 and sets of arms 51 and 56. The shaft 50 extends longitudinally of theV lifter and is located beneath.

Y, .portion of the ange I3 and includes driveV and driven parts (not shown). The drive part of the unit 52` is connected to the inner end of the shaft 56 through the medium of the shaft 5I.- The driven part of v'the unit operates to drive the kgear unit 53.V The latter is mounted beneath the rear end of the element-1 and includes a driven shaft to which is xed the pinion 54. The shaft 56 underlies the-supporting element Tandis journaled in bearingbrackets 6I. The gearsegment isflxed to the .shaft 56 and isin mesh with and adapted forv drive by the pinion 54. When the hand wheel 49w is rotated or turned inY one direction the shafts 56 and 5I, the brake vunit 52, the gear-unit 53, Vthepinion 54 and the gear segment 55 operateto rock or turn the Vvshaft 56m one direction and when the hand wheel is rotated in the reverse direction the aforementioned operating parts cause reverse rocking or turning of the shaft 56. The arms 51 are fixed to and radiate from the shaft 56 and are transversely aligned with the upper members I5 of the jaws They correspond in number to the upper members I5 of the jaw 8 and are connected to such members by way of links 62 and operate in response to rocking or rotation of the shaft 56 in one direction to swing the jaw outwards and in response to reverse rotation of the shaft to swing said jaw 8 inwards. The arms 58 radiate from the shaft 56 and are transversely aligned with the vupper members of the jaws. They correspond in number to the upper members of the jaw 9 and are connected to such members by links 63. The arms 51 and 58 together with their respective links 62 and 63 are so arranged that rocking or turning of the shaft 56 in one direction effects conjoint opening of the jaws 8 and 8 and reverse rocking or rotation of the shaft effects conjoint closing or inward swing of the jaws.

In order to offset or counteract the action or effect of gravity on the jaws 8 and 9 pairs of upstanding compression spring assemblies 64 and 65 are provided. These assemblies are associated with the jaws 8 and 8 respectively, as shown in Figure 4. The assemblies 65 are preferably four in number and these are arranged two in straddle relation with the front upper member of the jaw 9 and two in straddle relation with the rearmost upper member of the jaw 9. As shown in Figure 4, the assemblies 65 comprise rods 66, sleeves 61 and compression springs 68. The upper ends of the rods are pivotally connected to horizontally extending stub shafts 69 in order that the assemblies are free to swing or move laterally, i. e., in a transverse direction with respect to the horizontal supporting element 1. The stub shafts 69 are located above the top flange I2 of the element 1 and are carried by upstanding ears 18 in' such manner that they are substantially vertically aligned with certain of the pivot pins I8 for the jaw 8. The ears 16 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the supporting element 1. The rods 66 t slidably within the sleeves 51 and embody nuts 1I at their lower ends. The sleeves 61 surround all but the upper` extremities of the rods and have ring shaped blocks 12 fixed within theirupper ends. The upper ends of the rods extend through these blocks. Plugs 13 are xed within and serve to close the lower ends of the sleeves 61. The lower ends of the sleeves of the two Vspring assemblies at the front end of the lifter are pivotally connected to the front upper member of the jaw 6 by way of a pivot pin 14. This pin extends through the central portion of said upper member and through the plug 13 in the lower ends of the sleeves of the two assemblies at the front of the lifter. The lower ends of the sleeves of the two assemblies 55 at the rear of the -lifter are pivotally connected to the central portion of the rearmost upper member of the jaw 9 by way of a pivot pin 15. The compression springs 68 extend between the nuts 1I at the lower ends of the rods 66 and the blocks 'I2 in the upper ends of the sleeves 61. The spring assemblies 65 are so arranged that when the jaw 9 is swung inwards the compression springs E8 are placed under compression and when the jaw 8 is opened the assemblies 65, due to the compression of the springs 68, exert opening force upon the jaw Si and thus counteract or lessen the effect of gravity on the jaw and reduce the load on the gear mechanism I8. As shown in Figure 4, the spring assemblies 65 are so arranged that when the jaw 9 is in its fully closed position they are in dead center relation as far as the pivot pins I8 for the jaw 9 are concerned and hence they do not exert any opening force upon the jaw 8. The spring assemblies 64 correspond in design and function similarly to the assemblies 65. They comprise rods 15, sleeves 11 and compression springs (not shown) and are preferably four in number. Two of the assemblies 64 are positioned in straddled relation with the foremost upper member of the jaw 8 and the other two assemblies E4 are positioned or arranged in straddled relation with the rearmost upper member of said jaw 8. The upper ends of the rods 16 are pivotally connected to stub shafts 18 which are horizontally aligned with the stub shafts 68 and overlie and are vertically aligned with certainI of the pivot pins I8 for the jaw 8. The lower ends of the sleeves 11 of the two foremost assemblies 64 are pivotally connected to the central portion of the foremost upper member of the jaw 6 by means of a pivot pin 18 and the lower ends of the sleeves of the two rearmost assemblies 64 are pivotally connected to the central portion of the rearmost upper member of the jaw 8 by a pivot pin 80. The `springs of the assemblies 64 are placed under the same compression as the springs 68 and are adapted to be compressed in connection with closing of the jaw 8. When the jaw 8 is opened the assemblies 84 urge such jaw outwards and thus counteract or offset the action of gravity on the jaw and lessen the load on the gear mechanism IIJ. The assemblies 64 are so positioned or arranged that they are in dead center relation with the pivot pins I8 for the jaw 8 when such jaw is in its fully closed position, as shown in full lines in Figure 4. The assemblies 64 and 65 constitute simple means for counteracting the effect of gravity on the jaws B and 8 and materially facilitate opening of the jaws. It is to be particularly noted that whereas the compression springs of the spring assemblies 64 and 65 are under progressively decreasing compression as the jaws 8 and 9 swing outwards such assemblies exert increased outward force on the jaws because the pivotal arrangement is such that their leverage or toggle action increases in connection with increased outward swing of the jaws. Because of the specific spring arrangement of the spring assemblies the assemblies, except when they are in dead" center relaion with the pivot pins I8, exert substantially uniform outward thrust on the jaws regardless of the extent to which the jaws are opened.

In addition to the supporting element 1, the jaws 8 and 8 and the gear mechanism I0 the lifter comprises a pair of end hook-s 8I and 82. These hooks. as hereinafter described, serve to prevent sagging of the central portions of the sheets when the lifter is charged or loaded and moved from place to place. 'Ihe hook 8I is located at the front end of the lifter and is C- shaped. It is provided with a handle 83 for manipulating purposes and is connected to a spring retracted drum 84v by a wire cable 85. The drum 84 is mounted over the central portion of the supporting element 1,. The cable 85 is suitably connected to the upper end of the hook 8I and extends over a sheave 86 on the front end of the element 1. The drum 84 is rotatably mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 81 which extends transversely of the element 1 and is supported at its ends by a pair of bearing brackets 83. The latter are secured-to and -project upwardly from the top flange A|2f`ofrthe eleter is of progressively increasing diameterand has the inner end of the wire 4cable 85 suitably anchoredto its large end.. The portion of the wire. cable 85 adjacenttheranchored inner endA is wrapped aroundthe groove 92, asshown in Figure 6. When Vthe end hook 8| is pulled outwards the wire cable 85 unwinds rst from the small end ofthe groove 92, then from the central portion Iand iinallyfromY the outer end of thev groove. A convolute spring 93 serves to retract the drum 84, i. e., kurge the drum in such direction as to cause the wire cable 85 to wind therearound. The inner end of this spring in anchored to a collar 94 on the shaft 81. end of the spring is suitably.. secured to the inner periphery of the cylinder outer wall. 9| of .the drum. When the end hook 8| is pulled outwards the drum is so rotated that it winds up the spring 93. 93 acts reversely to rotate the drum and thus winds up the wire cablev 85. Because of the spiral groove 92 the force necessary to pull outwards the end hook 8| is uniform or constant. This is attributable to the fact that at the start of outward pull ofthe end hook 8| the spring 9S is under a minimum amount of tension. As the end hook 8| is moved progressively outwards and the spring 93 is resultantly placed under increased tension the wire cable 85, due to the spiral groove 92, moves farther from the center of the drum and hence affords greater leverage for rotation of the drum against the force of the spring. Such progressive leverage on the part of the cable, due to the spiral groove 92, compensates for increased resistance of the spring 93. A pawl 95 and coacting ratchet teeth 95 on the outer periphery of the outer Wall 9| of the drum serve to lock the drum against rotation when the end hook 8| ishooked in place. The ratchet teeth are formed integrally with the outer wall 9| and are located at one side of the side wall of the spiral groove 92. The pawl 95 is rotatably mounted on a horizontally extending pin 91 which extends transverselyof the supporting element 1 and is carred b-y one of the bearing brackets 88. It is adapted to swing into and out of mesh with the ratchet teeth 99 and is xed to,

and controlled by, an upstanding lever 98. The' latter is centrally journaled or fulcrumed on the pin 91 and has a tension spring 99 between its upper end and a lug on the adjacent lbearing bracket 88. .The spring 99 urges the lever 98 in a clockwiseY direction, as viewed in Figure 5, and tends to maintain the pawl 95 in seated relation with the ratchet teeth 95. When the pawl is in such seated relation the :drum 89 is locked against rotation and thus holds the end hook 8| in lixed relation with the sheets towhich it is applied. The ratchet teeth 96 are so arranged that the 'drum 84 is at all times free to wind up the cable 85. When the lever 98 is turned or rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as Viewed in Figure 5, the pawl 95 is swung out of seated relation with the ratchet teeth 98 and the drum 85| is thus released so that it is free to permit unwinding of the cable 85. The end hook 92 is disposed at the rear or opposite end of the lifter and is shaped like the end hook 8|. It is adapted to be hooked onto the rear ends of the sheets to be lifted.y as

The outer j Upon release of the end hook 8| the spring illustrated in Figure Land is connected to a springzretracted. I drurrr |00.` over. the central p01'.- tionof the supporting elemental 1`r by way of Ya wire cable |9|. .The; cable |0| connected to the upperport'ion ofthe end Ahook. 82 and: passes over a sheaveVV |02 on the rear endofthe support-r ing element 1.

The drum |00 islthe. same in .com struction as the drumVV 84 but is. reversely posi@ tioned on theelement 1.. It hasa spiral groove |03 Vupon which the upper or. inneri end` ofthe cable |0| is wrapped.. A pawl |041and an annular series ofy ratchet' teeth |05 onthe Outer periphery of the outer wallY ofthe .drum |00 servier to lock the ldrum against .unwinding when the rhook 92 is in place.' `The pawl |04 isrotatably mounted onapivot pin |06 and iscontrolled by` an upstandinglever |01. Suchlever is centrally pivoted or fulcrumed on the'jpfivot pin |06 and has a tension spring. |08 applied toV its upper enjd. Such spring urges the pawl.|04 into meshing or seated relation with, thezratchetl teeth |05. When, the lever |81 isturned clockwise, as viewed in FigureY l, the pawl|04is swung out of engagement with the teethvk |05 andthe drum |00V is thus free for unwinding. The drum. |00 has a convolute spring and this serves to rotate the drum in such directionl 4as tovwind'up'the yend of the plate 60. The lower end of the .cable |99 is provided with afgrip-I |2. Whenthe grip ||2 is pulled the cable |09` operates to swing the lever 98 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures l and 5, and thus releases the pawl` 95 from the ratchet teeth 96. The cable I0 is ancho-red at one `end Ythereof to the lower end 'of thelever 98'. lThey central portion of the cable |||1 extends through a hole in the Vertical web of the supporting element 1 andv around a pair of sheaves I3. "Such sheaves, as shown in Figure 2, are located on opposite sides of the vertical webof the' elementy 1. The'other end of theY cable H0' is. anchoredto thelower end of the lever |91. Said cable '||0` so connects the two levers |01 and 98"'that when the cable |09 is pulled to release the dog95 from the ratchet teeth '96 the lever |01 is turnedclockwise, as viewed in AFigure `1 and releases the dog |04 "from the ratchet teeth |05 on the drum |00: When it is 4desired to release the two drums so that' the end hooksll and 82 maybe pulled downwards andlapplied to the ends of a-stack o-f sheets to be lifted by the'lifter it is` only'necessary toipull on the grip ||2.l Suchy action,` as heretofore'def scribed, operates conjointly toA disengage the two dogs 95V and- |99 fromV their respective ratchet teeth.

For the purpose of releasably locking the levers 98:1and |91 in their openposition, a latch device ||4'is provided.vv 'I'his device comprises a'latch dog ||5 anda-rotary latch plate H6. The latch the supporting element 1 and -ts against oneV side'face of the vertical web The upper end' of. the dog 5 isin the form of a hook and is .disposed adjacent to the rotary latch plate IIS. The latter is rotatably mounted on a pivot stud II9 on the bracket plate II8 and has a notch |29 in its periphery. An arm .I2I and a. link |22 connect the latch plate to the lever 98 in such manner that the latch plate is rotated in response to swinging of said lever 98. The arm vI2I is fixed to one side of and radiates from the ratchet plate. The link |22 extends between and is pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever 98 and the distal end of the arm I2I. When the lever 98 is swung in a counterclockwise direction in connection with release of the drums 94 and |99 the latch plate IIB is rotated in one direction. A tension spring |23 is anchored to alug |24 on ther supporting element 'I and is connected to the lower end of the locking dog II5. This spring operates to urge the locking dog in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, i. e., in such a direction that the hooked upper end of the lever bears against the periphery of the latch plate H5. The notch |29 is so positioned that when the lever 98 is swung into its open position by manipulation of the cable |99 it registers with the upper or hooked end of the dog II5. When the notch is in registry with the upper hooked end of the dog the spring |23 swings the dog into hooked relation with the notch and thus the dog together with the latch plate H6, the arm I2I and the link |22 holds the lever 98 as well as the lever IIl'I in open position. .in order to permit the operator of the lifter to unhook the dog II from the latch plate a cable |24 and a cable |25 are provided. The cable |24 is connected to the upper or hooked end of the locking dog :l and extends forwardly, thence around a sheave |25 on the plate 69 and thence downwards. The lower end ofthe cable |59 has a grip I2'I so that the cable may be pulled by the operator. When such cable is pulled the latch dog Ii5 is swung out of engagement with the latch plate IIS and thus releases the levers 98 and |97 so that the springs 99 and |68 operate to swing them in such manner that they bring their respective pawls into engagement with the ratchet teeth 95 and |05. The cable |25 is connected to the lower end of the latch dog I I5 and leads rearwardly to a sheave |28 and extends around the sheave and thence downwards. The sheave |28 is mounted on a plate E29 at the rea-r end of the supporting element l. The lower end of the cable |25 is provided with a grip |30 whereby the cable may be pulled in order to disengage the latch dog II5 from the latch plate II6. The latch device II4 serves releasably to lock the levers 991 and |91 in their open position and is releasable from either end of the lever as the result of the provision of the cables |24 and I 25.

The operation of the lifter is as follows: When it is desired to lift Ya stack of sheets the jaws 8 and 9 are opened to the proper extent by manipulation of the gear mechanism I il. Thereafter the lower members I6 of the jaws are turned into their inoperative position. This is accomplished by releasing the levers 42 and then swinging the levers so as to turn the shafts 21 in the proper direction. After the lower members I6 of the jaws have been shifted Vinto their inoperative position the lifter is shifted or moved so as to bring the jaws 8 and 9 into straddled relation with the stack of sheets. Thereafter the lower membersl I6 of the jaws are turned into their operative position by proper manipulation of the levers 42. After the last mentioned operation the gear mechanism I0 is manipulated so as to swing the jaws inwards. If it is desired to use the end hooks 8| and 82 the cable |09 is first pulled in order to swing the levers 98 and I'I into their open position. When the levers are in such position the latch II4 operates automatically to retain them in such position. Upon release of the pawls yand |94 from the ratchet teeth of the drums the drums are released and hence the operator of the lifter may pull the hooks 8| and 82 downwards and manipulate them into hooked relation with the ends of the stack of sheets. After proper manipulation of the hooks the latch device II4 is released by pulling either the cable |24 or the cable |25. Upon release of the device the pawls 95 vand I4 move into seated relation with the ratchet teeth |05 and |95 and lock the drums in place. At the conclusion of this operation the lifter, together with the stack of sheets, is lifted and then moved to the desired location or place by manipulation of the crane or overhead hoist with which the lifter is associated. As soon as the proper location or place is reached the lifter is lowered and the gear mechanism I9 is then manipulated so as to open the jaws 8 and 9. In the event that it is desired to use the lifter in connection with a stack of comparatively wide sheets the lower members I6 of the jaws are released from the upper members by manipulating the levers 36 in such manner as to bring the notches 34 into registry with the upper notched portions of the side walls 24 of the box-like housings 23. Upon release of the lower members I6 they are angularly adjusted as desired and then locked in place by inward shift of the slide bars 32.

The herein described sheet lifter effectively and eiiiciently fulfills its intended purpose due to the specific construction and arrangement of its parts. Because the jaws embody rotatable L-shaped lower members the lifter may be used in connection with closely spaced stacks of sheets. The lifter is capable of quick and ready adjustment and is characterized by the fact that the 'end hooks 8| and 82 permit its use with a stack of comparatively wide sheets.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lifter adapted for use in handling sheets and other articles and comprising a pair of opposed horizontally elongated jaws mounted to move to and from one another, one of said jaws embodying a plurality of upstanding laterally spaced and aligned L-shaped members having the upper ends thereof mounted rotatably so that said members may be turned back andforth between an operative position wherein the bottom legs thereof face inwards and an inoperative position wherein said legs are substantially longitudinally aligned, means for conjointly shifting the members of said one jaw back and forth between their operative and inoperative positions comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of said one jaw and carried by the latter adjacent the upper ends of the members and pairs of meshing gears between the shaft and said upper ends of the members, and means for conjointly shifting the jaws to and from one another.

2. A lifter adapted for use in handling sheets and other articles and comprising apair oi opposed horizontally elongated jaws mounted to move to and from one another, one of said jaws embodying a plurality of upstanding laterally spaced and aligned L-shaped members having the upper ends thereof mounted rotatably so that the members may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein the bottom legs thereof face inwards and an inoperative position wherein said legs are substantially longitudinally aligned, means associated with said one jaw for conjointly shifting the L-shaped members back and forth between their operative and inoperative positions comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of said one jaw and carried by the latter adjacent the upper ends of the members, pairs oi-meshing gears between the the'shait and said upper ends of the members and a shaft turning or rotating'lever disposed in one end of said one jaw and connected to, and projecting radially from, the adjacent end of the shaft, reieasable latch means associated with the lever for locking said shifting means against actuation, and means for conjointly shifting the jaws to and from one another.

3. A lifter adapted for use in -handling sheets and other articles and comprising a pair of opposed horizontally elongated jaws mounted to move to and from one another, one of said jaws embodying a plurality of upstanding laterally spaced and aligned L-shaped members having the upper ends thereof mounted rotatably so that the members may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein the bottom legs thereof face inwards and an inoperative position wherein said legs are substantially longitudinally means for shifting the jaws to and from one another.

4. A lifter adapted for use in-handling -sheets and other articles and comprising a pair of opposed jaws mounted to move to and from one anothe-r, one of said jaws embodying a plurality oi laterally spaced and aligned depending upper members and in addition-a corresponding number of upstanding L-shaped members associated respectively with the upper members and having the upper ends `thereof rotatably mounted in housings so that they may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein the bottom legs thereof face or project inwards and an inoperative position wherein said legs are at right angles to their normal or operative position, a rotatable horizontal shaft extending through the housings and the lower ends of the upper members for connecting the lower members to the upper members so that they may be angularly adjusted relatively thereto, means for releasably locking the lower members in their Various adjusted positions, means for conjointly shifting the lower members back and forth between their operative and inoperative positions shaft and upper endsof said lower members, and

means for shifting the jaws to and fromcne another. Y y

5. A litterY adapted for use in handling sheets andcther articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws-depending from the sides of the element,

one of said jaws being pivotally connected to the element so that it may be swung to and from the other jaw, means for swinging said one jaw to and from the other jaw, acompression spring assembly extending between the element and said one jaw and arranged so that the spring thereof is placed under compression in connection with inward swing of said one jaw and operates upon outward swing of said one jaw to counteract or lessen the effect of gravity on the one jaw.

6. A lifter adapted for use in handling sheets and other articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed. jaws depending from the sides of the element and pivotally connected to said element se that they may be swung to and from one another, means for conjointly swinging said jaws to and from `one another, and compression spring assemblies extending between the element and the jaws and arranged so that the springs thereof are placed under compression in connection with inward swinging of the jaws and operate upon outward swing of the jaws to ycounteract or lessen the effect oi' gravity on the jaws. Y

7. A lifter adapted for use in handlingl sheets vand other articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed v pivotally connected to the element above said.A pivotal connections and having their lower ends pivotally connected to the jaws, and arranged: so

that the springs thereof are placed underfcom-v pression in connection with inward swing of the jaws and operate upon outward swing of the jaws including said shaft and gearing between the to counteract or lessenthe effect of gravity-fon the jaws, and further arranged so that when the jaws are swung inwards to substantially the "full `est extent they are in dead center relationwith said pivotal connections. Y

8. A lifter adapted for use in handling sheets and other'articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair'of opposed complemental jaws depending from the sides of the element and connected to said element so that they may be swung to and from one another, gear mechanism carried by the element for conjointly swinging said jaws to and from one another, and means including compression springs between the element and the jaws for resisting inward swing of the jaws.

9. A lifter adapted for use in handiing stacks of sheets and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another into and out of gripping relation with a stack vof 'I sheets, and means for supporting the central por-` tion of the stack against sagging embodying an having the other ond of the cable attached thereto.

10. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another into and out of gripping relation with a stack of sheets, and means for supporting the central portion of the stack against sagging embodying an end hook, a supporting cable for the hook having one end thereof connected to said hook, a spring retracted drum carried by the element and having the other end of the cable attached thereto, and releasable mechanism for locking the drum against rotation.

11. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another into and out of gripping relation with a stack of sheets, and means for supporting the central portion of the stack against sagging and embodying an end hook, a supporting cable for the hook having one end thereof connected to said hook, a spring retracted drum carried by the element and having the other end of the cable attached thereto, and releasable mechanism controllable from one end of the lifter for locking the drum against rotation.

12. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another into and out of gripping relation with a stack of sheets, and means for supporting the central portion of the stack against sagging embodying an end hook, a supporting cable for the hook having one end thereof connected to said hook, and a spring retracted drum carried by the element and having a spiral groove of progressively increasing diameter around which the other end of the cable is wound.

13. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets or other articles and comprising a hori- Zontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another, means supported by the element for shifting the jaws to and from one another, and means for supporting the stack of sheets to be lifted against sagging embodying an end hook, a supporting cable for the end hook having one end thereof connected to the hook, a spring retracted drum mounted on the central portion of the element and having the other end of the cable attached to it, a pawl and ratchet for locking the drum against rotation, and means controllable from one end of the lifter for releasing the pawl.

14. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets and other articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws disposed at the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another, means supported by the element for shifting the jaws to and from one another, a pair of hooks at the ends of the element for gripping and supporting the ends of the stack to be lifted, a pair of spring retracted drums mounted on the element and having pawls and ratchets for locking them against rotation, a pair of cables eX- tending between the drums and the hooks, and means for conjointly releasing the pawls.

15. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets and other articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another, means supported by the element for conjointly shifting said jaws, an end hook for gripping and supporting one end of the stack of the sheets to be lifted, a spring retracted drum carried by the element and having a pawl and ratchet for locking it against rotation, a supporting cable for the hook having one end thereof anchored to the drum and the other end attached to the hook, means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet, a latch mechanism for automatically locking the pawl in its released position, and means for releasing said latch mechanism.

16. A lifter adapted for use in handling stacks of sheets and other articles and comprising a horizontally elongated supporting element, a pair of opposed jaws depending from the sides of the element and mounted to move to and from one another, means supported by the element for conjointly shifting said jaws, an end hook for gripping and supporting one end of the stack of sheets to be lifted, a spring retracted drum carried by the element and having a pawl and ratchet for locking it against rotation, a supporting` cable for the hook having one end thereof anchored to the drum and the other end attached to the hook, means for releasing the pawl from the ratchet, a latch mechanism for automatically locking the pav/l in its released position, and means manipulable from either end of the lifter for releasing said latch mechanism.

EDWARD V. CULLEN. ERARD J. SHAUGHNESSY. CHARES J. TUPY. 

